In 2018, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) was awarded a $551K grant from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) program to create a new series of multimedia problem-based learning (PBL) instructional modules, referred to as PBL Challenges, in advanced photonics manufacturing in partnership with MIT's AIM Photonics Group and the photonics industry in the Northeast. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the project's professional development and classroom testing of the modules had to be adapted to an online format. A qualitative study was conducted in which participating STEM educators and photonics technician students were surveyed and interviewed to better understand (1) how and to what extent online delivery of PBL instructional materials impacted teacher and faculty adaptation, and (2) the impact of online PBL instruction on student learning outcomes. Results of the study are presented.